Car owners have the right to have their cars repaired. A consumer movement claiming this is being developed in the United States, and Massachusetts took the lead. However, the U.S. government has put a hold on this move.
For nearly three years, Massachusetts state law has required automakers to provide vehicle body data to car owners and independent auto repair shops. In mid-June, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which regulates automobile safety in the United States, issued a warning to automakers not to comply with the state law.
If customers and repairers gain access to vehicle systems, hackers may gain access as well. As a result, steering, acceleration, braking and electronic control systems could be compromised, according to a letter issued by government lawyers.
It was in 2020 that disagreements between Massachusetts and the US federal government began. An overwhelming majority of Massachusetts voters voted to give people the right to fix their cars.
The Automotive Innovation Association (AAI), an industry group of global automakers, has filed a lawsuit to block the state’s enforcement of the law. The AAI argues that state laws have no effect because they are subject to U.S. motor vehicle safety regulations in the first place. In other words, this is not an issue for Massachusetts voters to decide, and allowing intrusions into vehicle systems poses a safety risk.
A federal judge presiding over the case has yet to rule on the matter. The U.S. government also remained silent on the issue until June.
It’s fair to say that the “right to repair” movement has once again hit a wall. Massachusetts says the law serves the interests of car consumers. The U.S. government argues that state laws undermine vehicle safety.
Confusion caused by new movements
So what does this new phase of the right-to-fix movement mean for Massachusetts auto owners, repairers and dealers?
It’s confusing at the moment. “Massachusetts consumers are left wondering what their rights are due to this protracted dispute,” said the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition. Tommy Hickey says Hickey also heads a group trying to pass similar state legislation in Maine . The legal debate has also left new-car owners in Massachusetts in denial , with some safety and comfort features denied.
Despite the legal stalemate, the Massachusetts Attorney General granted the right to access all machine data recorded by the vehicle body for the purposes of diagnosing, maintaining and repairing vehicles owned by the state on June 1. We have started distributing documents notifying new car buyers of this fact . Massachusetts First Assistant Attorney General Pat Moore, in a statement, questioned why the U.S. government decided to get involved on this issue at this time. I asked what happened, but got no response.)
